Electric top with power source and centrifugal switch



April 19, 1966 A. A. TUURI 3,246,427

ELECTRIC TOP WITH POWER SOURCE AND CENTRIFUGAL SWITCH Filed Feb. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ARMAS A. TUURI ATTORNEYS A. A. TUURI April 1'9, 1966 ELECTRIC TOP WITH POWER SOURCE AND CENTRIFUGAL SWITCH Filed Feb. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ARMAS A. TUURI FIG. 6

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,246,427 ELECTRIC TOP WITH'POWER SOURCE AND CENTRIFUGAL SWITCH I Armas A. Tuuri, 6040 David Berger, Mount Morris, Mich.

Filed Feb. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 433,740 13 Claims. (Cl. 46 -243) This application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 217,178, filed August 15, 1962, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to an electrically operated toy top and more particularly to a top having a self-contained power source and vdriving means and including switching means capable of initiating and maintaining rotation of the top with intermittent operationof the driving means.

An object of this invention is to provide a rotatable top having electrically operated driving means which is capable of rotating the top to a predetermined speed of rotation and which then may be disengaged so as to conserve the source of electrical energy by which the driving means is operated.

' Another object ofrthe invention is to provide a top of the character described having two relatively rotatable parts and in which the two parts may rotate in the same pointed out specifically orwill become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a top constructed in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2is a top plan view of' the top;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the top; FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the disclosed embodiment of the invention comprises a body 1,comprising a generally cup-shaped disk 2 formed of electrically insulating material such as polyethylene or the like and terminating at its lower end in an annular flange 3. Removably secured to the flange 3 is a base or bottom member 4 provided at its lower extremity with a centrally located, smooth, anti-friction tip or pivot 5 about'which the top is adapted to rotate.

The disk 2 has a bottom wall 6 which is so shaped as to form a cavity 7 in which a source of electrical energy may be removably accommodated. In the disclosed embodiment the cavity receives a dry cell battery "8 of conventional construction, the opposite terminals of the battery bearing against conductive, springfingers 9 and 10 which are secured to and extend through the -wall 6. The battery 8 is removably retained withinthe cavity -7 by engagement with the base member 4.

A cover member 11 is provided with a marginal flange 12 which grips the rim of the disk 2 and securely, but removably, maintains the members 2 and 11 in assembled relation. At the central portion of the cover 11 is an upstanding, hollow housing 13 in which is accommodated an electric motor 14 which rests upon the upper surface of thebase wall 6. The motor 14 is conventional and 3,246,427 Patented Apr. 19, 1966 has its field windings connected to terminals 15 and 16. The motor also includes an armature shaft 17 the outer end of which preferably is squarefor some other noncircular shape in cross-section, andthe shaft 17 is centrally located with respect toan opening 18 formed in .the top wall of the housing 13. Preferably, Ithe'interior of the housing 13 includes inwardly extending ribs 20'which grip the motor so as frictionally to retain the motor in the housing.

Fixed to the innersurface of the housing 13 is a pair of electrically conductive blades or members 21 and 22 having confronting legs 23 and 24,]respectively, interposed between the top wall of thelhousing andthe casing of the motor 14 on. opposite sides ofthe shaft 17.

The top constructionincludesa rotor member 26 comprising an elongated stem27 to which is secured a plurality of radiating, drag-inducing vanes or members 28. In the disclosed embodiment, there are four members 28 ice uniformly spaced about theilo'ngitu'dinal' axis of the stem 27 and each member 28 has a substantial surface area so as to offer considerably more resistance to rotation of vthe member 26 than the tip,5 offers to rotation of the body 1. Means is provided for mounting ,the' rotor member 26 on the motor shaft 17 and comprises a recess 29 adjacent the lowerend of the stem 27 in communication with an axially extending passage 30 that is soshaped with reference to the cross-sectional shaft of the shaft 17as to provide a driving clutch connection between the member 26 and the shaft 17. The ,axial' length of the recess 29 is such as to enable relative'axial movement between the stem'27 and theshaft'17l' The lower orinner end of the stem 27 is provided with an annular flange 31 o n which is seated anannular, electrically conductive bridging member 32 of such diameter as to bridge the -legsi23 and 24. The member 32 lies between the casing of the motor 14 and the legs 23 and 24 for movement axially of the shaft 17. The members 23, 24 and 32 constitute a manually operable switch 33 which may be closed upon axial elongation of the members 17 and 27 and which may beepened upon axial contraction of those members.

The upper or outer end of the stem 27 preferably includes a knob 36 by meansvofwhich the axial movements of the stem 27 may be facilitated. The knob 36 also provides means for lifting and holding the entire assembly.

The electrical circuitry for the apparatus comprises a simple series cir'cuityvherein the battery contact 9 is connected to the switch contact 23 by a wire 37, and the battery contact 10 is connected to the motor terminal 16- by awire 38. The other motorterminal 15 may be 'connected'directly to the switch contact 24.by a single wire, but preferably a centrifugal switch 40 istconnected to the terminals 15 and 24 by wires 41 and 42, respectively. In the disclosed embodiment, the centrifugal switch 40 comprises a curved, copper wire 43 of substantial length and which is fixed at one end in a mounting block 44 that is secured to the inner surface of the disk member 2. The wire 41 is connected to the ,fixed end of the arm 43. Theopposite end of the wire 43 is free, butis provided with a weight 45 adjacent its free end. The free end of the arm 43 overliesa mounting block '47 in which is mounted a substantially radially extending conductor 48 to the radially inner end of which is connected the wire 42.

,the upper surface of the member 47 is provided with an upwardly inclined ramp 49 which extends above the upper surface of the conductor 48. At the radially outer end of the ramp 49 is an upstanding stop pin 50 which is fixed to the disk 2. Overlying the mounting member 47 and spaced above the latter is one end of a thin, flexible reed 51 formed of insulating material. The opposite end of the reed 51 is secured to a mounting member 52 that is fixed to the inner surface of the disk 2.

The construction and arrangement of the reed 51 are such that radially outward movement of the arm 43 from the full line position shown in FIGURE 5 causes the arm to pass beneath the reed 51 toward the stop pin 50 to the position shown in dotted lines. When the arm 43 moves radially inwardly from a position adjacent the stop pin 56), the arm rides over the reed 51 and subsequently drops into engagement with the conductor 48.

When the apparatus is inactive, the centrifugal switch 40 is closed, but the switch 33 is open, thereby preventing activation of the motor 14. To condition the apparatus for operation, the top may be lifted by the knob 36, and the stem displaced axially to the position shown in FIIG- URE 3 so as to move the contact 32 into engagement with the contacts 23 and 24, thereby closing the switch 33. Upon closing of the switch 33, the motor 14. will be activated, causing the shaft 17 to rotate. Preferably the motor is so wound that the shaft 17 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 4. As long as the knob 36 is held, the shaft 17 will remain stationary, but the body 1 will rotate in a clockwise direction.

When the body 1 reaches a speed suflicient to maintain 1 the. top in an upright position, it may be lowered so as to place the tip 5 on a smooth surface. The knob 36 then may be released, whereupon the rotor 26 will begin to spin in a counterclockwise direction while the body 1 continues to rotate in the opposite direction. Because of the greater resistance offered by the vanes 28 to rotation of the rotor 26, a drag will be imposed on the shaft 17, thereby causing the body 1 to be rotated at an ever increasing speed.

As the speed of rotation of the body 1 increases, centrifugal force will act on the weight 45 and cause the resilient conductor arm 43 to move radially outwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 4. As the arm 43 moves outwardly, it passes under the reed 51 and begins to climb the ramp 49, thereby disengaging the conductor 48 and breaking the circuit so as to deenergize or deactivate the motor 14.

Upon deenergization of the motor 14, relative rotation of the motor 14 and its shaft 17 will terminate, thereby causing the rotor 26 to cease rotating in the counterclockwise direction and begin to rotate in the same direction as the body 1. Such rotation of the rotor will decelerate the rotation of the body 1, thereby enabling the resiliency of the arm 43 to overcome the centrifugal force acting on the latter and effect movement of the arm 43 radially inwardly. Such movement of the arm 43 will cause it to ride over the reed 51 and thereby prevent engagement between the arm 43 and the conductor 48 until such time as the arm 43 has been moved radially inwardly a distance suflicient to clear the reed 51. At this time, the arm 43 once again will engage the contact 48 and reestablish a circuit to the motor 14, whereupon the shaft 17 once again will be driven. Upon the application of driving force to the shaft 17, the rotation of the vane 26 in the same direction as the body 1 will terminate and the rotor will being to rotate in the opposite direction, thereby effecting acceleration of the body 1 in the same manner described above.

From the foregoing description of the operation of the apparatus it will be clear that the top will continue to ro tate at varying speeds and with only the intermittent application of power. Moreover, the rotor 26 will rotate first in one direction and then in the other direction, thereby providing a source of amusement to the operator. Because of the ability of the top to operate with only intermittent application of power, the life of the power source 8 will be greatly extended.

To disable operation of the top, it is only necessary to push downwardly on the knob 36 so as to open the switch 33, whereupon the top gradually will decelerate until it stops.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred form of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A power top construction comprising a body having at its lower end means supporting said body for rotation; an electric mot-or supported by said body and having a shaft rotatable relatively to said body; a rotor member; means mounting said rotor member on said shaft externally of said body and for rotation with said shaft and for axial movement relative to said shaft; a source of electric energy supported by said body; electric circuit means interconnecting said source and said motor; and switch means in said circuit movable between circuit closing and circuit opening positions in response to relative axial movement of said shaft and said mounting means for selectively activating and deactivating said motor.

2. A power top construction comprising a body having means at its lower end supporting said body for rotation; an electric motor supported by said body and having a shaft rotatable relatively to said body; a rotor member; means mounting said member for rotation with said shaft; a source of electric energy supported by said body; and normally closed switch means in circuit with said source and said motor, said switch means being movable from closed position to open position in response to rotation of said shaft at a predetermined speed.

3. A power top construction comprising a body having means at its lower end supporting said body for rotation; an electric motor supported by said body and having a shaft rotatable relatively to said body; a rotor member; means mounting said member on said shaft for rotation therewith; a source of electric energy supported by said body; first and second switch means in circuit with said source and said motor; manually operable means for selectively opening and closing one of said switch means; and centrifugally operable means for opening and closing the other of said switch means in response to relative rotation of said shaft and said body at predetermined speeds.

4. A power top construction comprising a body having means at its lower end supporting said body for rotation; an electric motor supported by said body and having a shaft rotatable relatively to said body; rotor means mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and exerting on said shaft a force tending to oppose its rotation; a source of electric energy supported by said body; and centrifugal switch means in circuit with said motor and said source for disconnecting the latter from said motor when the speed of relative rotation of said shaft and said body reaches a predetermined value and for connecting said source to said motor when the speed of relative rotation of said shaft and said body reaches another predetermined value.

5. The construction set forth in claim 4 including second switch means in circuit with said source and said motor; and means independent of said centrifugal switch means for operating said second switch means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said source and said motor.

6. A power top comprising a body having an antifriction pivot; an electric motor supported by said body and having a shaft rotatable relatively to said body; a rotor member mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and having drag inducing means thereon for exerting on said shaft a force tending to oppose its rotation; 21 source of electric energy supported by said body; and switch means in circuit with said source and said motor for selectively activating and deactivating said motor to initiate and terminate relative rotation between said shaft and said body, said drag inducing means offering more resistance to rotation of said rotor member than said antifriction means offers to rotation of said body member whereby activation of said motor efiects rotation of said body at a faster rate of speed than said rotor member.

7. The construction set forth in claim 6 wherein said switch means includes a pair of contacts one of which is responsive to the speed of rotation of said body to open and close said circuit.

8. The construction set forth in claim 6 wherein said switch mean-s includes engageable and disengageable contacts, one of which is movable radially outwardly and inwardly in response to changes in the speed of rotation of said body member.

9. The construction set forth in claim 8 wherein out ward radial movement of said one contactelfects disengagement of said contacts and opening of saidgcircuit, and inward radial movement of said contact elfects engagement of said contacts and closing of said circuit.

10. The construction set forth in claim 9 including insulating means located in the path of radially inward movement of said one contact for preventing reengagement of said contacts until said one contact has moved radially inwardly a distance to traverse said insulating 25 means.

11. The construction set forth in claim 10 wherein the disengagement and reengagement of said contacts occur at different radial distances from the axis of rotation of said body whereby the speed of rotation of said body is variable.

12. The construction set forth in claim 10 wherein said insulating means comprises a flexible reed.

13. An electric top having a body in which is located an electric battery and an electric motor having a vertically extending drive shaft on which is secured by means of a mechanical clutch a plurality of vanes above the upper surface of said body, means at the lower end of said body supporting said body for rotation, a normally closed electric switch connected to the said battery and said electric motor thereby providing means of starting and stopping the said electric top from rotating, a centrally located knob on top of the said vanes thereby providing means of picking up the said top, and means mounting said switch on said top to automatically close said switch when said top is picked up and open said switch when the knob is depressed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,623,327 12/1952 Testino 46-61 2,879,623 3/ 1959 Proll 46-66 3,019,555 2/ 1962 Poticha 46--243 3,137,093 6/ 1964 Ulrich 46-243 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A POWER TOP CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A BODY HAVING AT ITS LOWER END MEANS SUPPORTING SAID BODY FOR ROTATION; AN ELECTRIC MOTOR SUPPORTED BY SAID BODY AND HAVING A SHAFT ROTATABLE RELATIVELY TO SAID BODY; A ROTOR MEMBER; MEANS MOUNTING SAID ROTOR MEMBER ON SAID SHAFT EXTERNALLY OF SAID BODY AND FOR ROTATION WITH SAID SHAFT AND FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT; A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY SUPPORTED BY SAID BODY; ELECTRIC CIRCUIT MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID SOURCE AND SAID MOTOR; AND SWITCH MEANS IN SAID CIRCUIT MOVABLE BETWEEN CIRCUIT CLOSING AND CIRCUIT OPENING POSITIONS IN RESPONSE TO RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT AND SAID MOUNTING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ACTIVATING AND DEACTIVATING SAID MOTOR. 